September 2010 archive

Welcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

“Punting the Pundits” is an Open Thread. It is a selection of editorials and opinions from around the news medium and the internet blogs. The intent is to provide a forum for your reactions and opinions, not just to the opinions presented, but to what ever you find important.

The Sunday Talking Heads:

This Week with Christiane Amanpour: This weeks guests are Austan Goolsbee, the newly appointed chair of the President’s Economic Council and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam behind the Islamic Center, Park 51. The Round Table participants are George Will, Arianna Huffington, ABC News’ Senior Congressional Correspondent Jon Karl, and Kate Zernike of the New York Times and author of “Boiling Mad,” a new book about the Tea Party Movement, debating what should be done about the expiring the Bush tax cuts.

Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer: Mr. Schieffer will have an exclusive interview with Ohio Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican Leader. Later he will be joined by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Tom Kean, Co-Chairman of the 9/11 Commission and former New Jersey Governor

The Chris Matthews Show: Joining Mr. Matthews will be Dan Rather, HDNet Global Correspondent, Katty Kay, BBC Washington Correspondent, Andrea Mitchell, NBC News

Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and David Ignatius, The Washington Post Columnist. The questions they will tackle: Did President Obama overreact to the Florida pastor? and Is President Obama smart so take a hard left turn on taxes?

Meet the Press with David Gregory: Mr Gregory will have an Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod who will discuss the Administration’s agenda and defends their record.

A second exclusive with Former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani (R) on tis anniversary of 9/11

The Round Table guests are Fmr. Clinton White House Press Secretary, Dee Dee Myers, Author of the book, “No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and the Future of Islam,” Reza Aslan, Republican Strategist, Mike Murphy and Political Director for Atlantic Media, Ron Brownstein.

State of the Union with Candy Crowley: EXCLUSIVE! Nine years after 9/11 the country’s focus is on the intense debate over the wisdom of a proposed cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero and a controversial pastor in Florida who planned to burn copies of the Quran in the face of possible repercussions for the U.S. at home and abroad. We’ll have an exclusive conversation with a special Homeland Security panel. Candy speaks with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; Fmr. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff; and Fmr. Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Fran Townsend.

Then, the summer of recovery … that wasn’t. How will the struggling economy effect the midterm elections? Will the Democrats be able to retain control of both Houses? The view from both sides of the aisle: House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD); and Fmr. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) and Fmr. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS)

Yeah, that’s balanced.

Fareed Zakaris: GPS: It’s been 9 years since the September 11th attacks and Al-Qaeda is in shambles and on the run — largely thanks to the efforts of the U.S. and its partners in combating terror. Fareed offers his “take” on why now that we face a diminished enemy, it is time to reset the balance between security and liberty.

Then Fareed is joined by a panel of seasoned experts from both sides of the political aisle, including two former CIA operatives, to get their take. Are we safer? Did the U.S. overreact to 9/11. You’ll be surprised at what they say.

Next up, what in the world is the rush to get out of Iraq?

And, after that, a big GPS exclusive with the first high ranking official to leave the Obama administration. Peter Orszag, until recently one of Obama’s top economic advisers, talks about what can be done to fix America’s economic ailments.

And finally, a last look at a new way to show the Taliban that it’s “game over”.

Tax Cuts May Prove Better for Politicians Than for Economy

By DAVID KOCIENIEWSKI, The New York Times

Published: September 10, 2010

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office  this year analyzed the short-term effects of 11 policy options and found that extending the tax cuts would be the least effective way to spur the economy and reduce unemployment. The report  added that tax cuts for high earners would have the smallest “bang for the buck,” because wealthy Americans were more likely to save their money than spend it.

…

“It may have some small impact along the margins, but firms don’t hire based on tax breaks; they hire based on demand,” said Roberton Williams, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. “So a lot of the tax breaks are likely to be rewarding people and companies for that they were going to do anyway.”

…

Edward D. Kleinbard, former chief of staff of the bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, said the reliance on tax expenditures had distorted the budget process because it induced the public to overlook the fact that – unless they are accompanied by spending reductions – tax cuts have the same effect on the deficit as additional spending. It also allows politicians to make unsubstantiated claims about the power of tax-cutting to accomplish other economic goals, he said.

“The thought that tax cuts pay for themselves or that tax cuts alone can turn around this economy is magical thinking,” said Mr. Kleinbard, now a law professor at the University of Southern California. “The debate has become so unrealistic it makes you want to scream.”

My emphasis, because the Gray Lady doesn’t do that.

This is your morning Open Thread. Pour your favorite beverage and review the past and comment on the future.

September 11 is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 111 days remaining until the end of the year. It is usually the first day of the Coptic calendar and Ethiopian calendar (in the period AD 1900 to AD 2099).

Race 14 of 19 and the last one in Europe this year.  Monza is reputedly the fastest track and has hosted more races (60) than any other.  Like most of the classic tracks it’s been shortened considerably though it is still 3.6 miles a lap.  They’ve added some chicanes in recent years but it’s still full throttle most of the way around.

All the teams have reworked their aero for this race and during yesterday’s practice most were sporting a ‘Flow Viz’ paint job that subtly ripples under pressure so the engineers can see where the air is going.  There are 2 aero strategies going on, one using the F-Duct to spoil the downforce on the rear wing and the other simply using a noticeably smaller wing.  McLaren tested both, sending out Button with the F-Duct and Hamilton with the small wing.

It’s also notoriously tough on brakes and the drive trains, but those are most likely tomorrow issues when they’ll be carrying 300+ pounds of fuel at the start (unless, of course, someone blows up or parks it today- FLAMING CHUNKS OF TWISTED METAL RULZ!).

Being Monza the stands will be packed with Ferrari fans.  The final ruling by the World Motor Sport Council is that the $100,000 fine for the Team Orders violation at Nurburgring is the only penalty they will suffer for that incident.  In other off track news, no new Team qualified to participate next year (leaving it at 12) and they officially added a race in India bringing the total number of races to 20.

The results at Spa were pretty devastating for Vettel and Button who find themselves 31 and 35 points (respectively) behind the leader Hamilton.  On the other hand they were pretty good for Alonso who is only 10 points out of third.  In the Team standings McLaren is but a single point behind Red Bull, with Marlboro UPC a distant third.

As always don’t let my prattle keep you from making your own observations.  I have to take notes because Richard gives a quiz after the race.  bmaz’s F1 trash talk is here.  There will be no re-broadcast of qualifying, tomorrow’s race package starts with GP2 at 6 am, pre-race at 7:30, start at 8, all on Speed.

Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin

The King and Queen of Republican Fear Mongering and Racism  

The more I do this the more I realize just how repetitive and unimaginative most TV is.  That’s why sports stars are worth every penny they’re paid.

Another season ending surgery for Johan Santana.

Formula One Debrief and a repeat of this morning’s practice at Monza on Speed starting at 12:30.

• AMC– The Dead Pool x 2
• CNBC– Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room
• ESPN– West Virginia at Marshall, Texas-El Paso at Houston
• Food– Chopped Champions (repeat of Round 2)
• FX– Spiderman 3
• History– 9/11, 9/11, 9/11, 9/11, 9/11
• MSNBC– Friday Night Thurber, Rachel, Brian Williams on New Orleans (hey, it’s better than prison porn)
• Oxygen– Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous x 2
• SciFi– Eureka (last week’s and new), Haven (premier)
• TBS– Ocean’s Eleven x 2
• Turner Classic– Beach Red, Leave Her to Heaven (Cornel Wilde night)
• TNT– The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• Toon– Clone Wars (3 episodes)
• USA– Liar Liar, The Game Plan
• Bravo– Bad Boys x 2
• Discovery– Man, Woman, Wild (last week’s and new), Beyond Survival With Les Stroud (premier)

Let me tell you something, Callahan. People… people are fascinated with death and violence. That’s why my films make money. They’re an escape, a vicarious release of fear. Same thing with this game. Nobody takes my films *or* the dead pool seriously.

Later-

• AMC– The Terminator
• MSNBC– Back to prison porn
• MTV– A Knight’s Tale
• Turner Classic– A Song to Remember (more Cornel)
• Toon– Childrens Hospital, American Dad, The Mighty Boosh (Artic), Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (episode 1 of 6)

Evening Edition is an Open Thread

1 Medvedev warns of parliamentary democracy ‘catastrophe’

by Stuart Williams, AFP

Fri Sep 10, 11:56 am ET

Johnathan Turley:

If torture is a national security secret it should be disclosed